THE 266 CC: PERFORM DIFF AMER MUSICAL

“Who lives, who dies, who tells your story?” Lin-Manuel Miranda posits in Hamilton. Whose stories have been told in American musical theatre and how? Who has told them and at what cost? In this course, we explore how race, gender, class, and other markers of “difference” have been captured within the history of musical theater in the United States, spanning the form’s origins, development, and influence on popular culture. We first establish the defining conventions of musical theater including the different elements of the musical script, stage movement, casting, acting, music, lyrics, choreography, and design work together to create a performance. We also consider intersections of science and economics in musical theater by examining the lucrative phenomenon of “ear worms.” We then move into case studies to consider the musical as an entertainment medium that shaped and was shaped by its historical and cultural context. Representative examples include Show Boat, The Cradle Will Rock, Oklahoma!, Company, A Chorus Line, Rent, Hamilton, and Dear Evan Hansen. We conclude by considering how the musical theater of today engages with that of the past. The course is structured around seminar discussion of video and audio recordings, texts, and images, but special guests, workshops, and field trips will enhance our learning. The final project is open in its design, allowing students to explore personal interests and curiosity. Throughout the course, we emphasize historical context and the consequences of representation, thus illuminating the potential of musical theatre to both reinforce and re-imagine a society.